The Airdrie U14 Strikers softball team celebrated after they won the Calgary Minor Softball Association Tier II championship on June 22 after a dramatic 16-15 win over the Okotoks Outlaws.

SUBMITTED/For Rocky View Publishing

A comeback for the ages helped the Airdrie U14 Strikers softball team capture the Calgary Minor Softball Association’s Tier II Championship on June 22.

Trailing by a score of 15-11 to the Okotoks Outlaws heading into the fifth and final inning at the Vista Heights Field in Calgary, the Strikers scored five unanswered runs to come away with the city title.

“Okotoks had been more dominant throughout the game, but at the end of the game, our girls realized that this was their last chance to get the win, and they came through with the big hits that they needed,” Strikers Head Coach Ryan Dorr said.

“When Mackenzie Mason won the game with a two-run triple, I don’t think she realized it right away,” he added.

“I had to tell her a couple of times that she had won the game for us, and she pretty much went nuts when it finally sunk in for her.”

The dramatic championship win capped off a strong season for the Strikers in the Calgary league, as they entered the post-season with an impressive 5-1-1 record.

“The season went from the start of May until June, and we played our games in Airdrie, High River, Cochrane, Strathmore, and Calgary,” Dorr said. “It can be hectic on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s, but it can be a lot of fun.”

“Our team was a pretty interesting mix of 13 and 14 year olds this year,” he added. “Three of the players (Ashley Simard, Sydney Reed, and Sarah Grant) had never played before until this year, but they fit right in.”

Even though the Tier II season is now in the record books, the Strikers team isn’t planning on splitting up any time soon, as it will be taking part in the Calgary Softball Fall League starting in September.

“Our entire team expressed an interest in taking part in that league, so I signed them up on June 27 so that they will be on the list for when it starts up,” Dorr said.

“I expect them to all follow behind me in a couple of months,” he joked.

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